High school sports run deep in Minnesota, but which local school districts truly offer the best environment for student-athletes?
When it comes to balancing high school academics with top-tier athletic programs, Minnesota continues to stand out on the national stage. A new national ranking highlighted by Nichehas officially named the best high schools for student-athletes in Minnesota for 2026.
Looking at everything from championship history and athletic participation to facility quality, the study broke down the state’s top programs. Here are the top 10 high schools leading the pack in Minnesota.
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Factors Considered For Rankings:Parent/Student Surveys on Sports, Total High School Enrollment, K12 Sports Championships, Number of Sports, Boys Athletic Participation, Girls Athletic Participation
10) Hopkins Senior High School (Minnetonka)
- Total Number of Sports Teams: 29
9) St. Michael – Albertville Senior High School (St. Michael)
- Total Number of Sports Teams: 23
8) Wayzata High School (Plymouth)
- Total Number of Sports Teams: 28
7) Hermantown Senior High School (Hermantown)
- Total Number of Sports Teams: 27
6) Saint Thomas Academy (Mendota Heights)
- Total Number of Sports Teams: 15
5) Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis)
- Total Number of Sports Teams: 26
4) Orono Senior High School (Long Lake)
- Total Number of Sports Teams: 19
3) Lakeville South High School (Lakeville)
- Total Number of Sports Teams: 25
2) Rosemount Senior High School (Rosemount)
- Total Number of Sports Teams: 30
1) Maple Grove Senior High School (Maple Grove)
- Total Number of Sports Teams: 34
With the wide variety of sports offered, the high levels of student participation, and sustained tournament success (in nearly all sports), Maple Grove continues to set the standard for high school athletics in the ‘Land of Ten Thousand Lakes’…